Wyo. Code R. 206-0002-2
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 2: Rules for Minimum Standards for Wyoming Student Transportation Vehicles
Effective Date: 12/17/2019 to 10/05/2021
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 206.0002.2.12172019
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated by the State Superintendent pursuant to the authority granted by Wyoming Statute 31-5-118(a).
(a) Standards for Wyoming student transportation vehicles are defined by the specifications found in the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP) published by the National Congress on School Transportation, which are incorporated into this chapter by reference. In doing so, the Superintendent and Wyoming Department of Education find as follows:
(i) Incorporating the text of the NSTSP would be cumbersome and inefficient given the length and nature of the publication;
(ii) The referenced incorporation means the edition of the NSTSP adopted by the National Congress on School Transportation; and
(iii) Furthermore, the incorporation is limited to the text of the NSTSP that applies to school bus equipment specifications; specially equipped school bus specifications; and alternative fuels.
(b) This document specifies Wyoming student transportation vehicle minimum standards which modify or supplement the NSTSP. In addition to these standards, all Wyoming student transportation vehicles shall comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and other state and federal standards applicable to school buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV) on the date of manufacture.
(a) 'School bus' means as defined in W.S. 31-5-102(a)(xlii).
(i) 'Type 'A' school bus' means a conversion school bus with a cutaway front-section vehicle with a left side driver's door and with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than or equal to 21,500 pounds.
(ii) 'Type 'C' school bus' means a school bus with a chassis with a hood and front fender assembly. The entrance door is behind the front wheels; also known as a conventional school bus. This type also includes cutaway truck chassis or truck chassis with cab with or without a left side door and a GVWR greater than 21,500 pounds.
(iii) 'Type 'D' school bus' means a school bus with a stripped chassis. The entrance door is ahead of the front wheels; also known as rear or front engine transit style school bus.
(b) 'Specially equipped' means a school bus designed, equipped or modified to accommodate students with special needs.
(c) 'Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle' means a motor vehicle built on a truck chassis with seven to ten passenger positions (including the driver) that cannot be certified as a school bus pursuant to 49 CFR §571.
(a) All emergency exit doors shall be accessible by a 12-inch minimum aisle. The aisle shall be unobstructed at all times. The track of a track seating system is exempt from this requirement.
(b) All Type A school buses shall be equipped with hydraulic brakes.
(c) School bus body exterior trim shall be black.
(d) The following applies to school bus doors:
(i) The entrance door shall be equipped with a power opener under the driver's control.
(ii) There shall be no door to the left of the driver on Type C or D school buses. Type A school buses may be equipped with a chassis manufacturer's standard door to the driver's left.
(e) Type C school buses shall have three Group 31 maintenance-free batteries and Type D school buses shall have two 8D maintenance-free batteries.
(f) In addition to the fire extinguisher located in the driver's compartment, school buses with capacity greater than 56 passengers shall be equipped with a second fire extinguisher mounted in the rear of the bus and readily accessible to the driver and passengers.
(g) School buses shall have removable, moisture-proof and dust-proof first aid kits in a sealed metal box in an accessible place in the driver's compartment. They shall be mounted and identified as first aid kits. A first aid kit's location shall be marked.
(h) Each school bus shall have a removable and moisture-proof body fluid clean-up kit in a sealed metal box accessible to the driver.
(i) In addition to the emergency door and push-out rear window requirements of FMVSS 217, all school buses shall be equipped with emergency exits as follows for the indicated school bus capacities:
(i) One through 45 passengers: one emergency exit per side and one roof hatch.
(ii) 46 to 78 passengers: two emergency exits per side and two roof hatches.
(j) All diesel fuel systems shall be equipped with a fuel heater or heated fuel-water separator.
(k) Floor insulation shall be treated, five-ply softwood plywood, nominal 5/8-inch thickness, and shall be equal to or exceed properties of the exterior-type, C-D Grade, as specified in the standard issued by U.S. Department of Commerce.
(l) The interior of the school bus shall be free of all unnecessary projections. All school buses shall be equipped with inner lining on ceilings and walls. If the ceiling is constructed with lap joints, the forward panel shall be lapped by rear panel and exposed edges shall be beaded, hemmed, flanged, or otherwise treated to minimize sharp edges. School buses may be equipped with an external storage compartment for tools or tire chains.
(m) Interior parcel racks may be provided above side windows within range from front seat to rear seat and be free of projections; shall have a padded perimeter at emergency exit doors; and may be tubular or solid bottom.
(n) School buses shall be equipped with two alternately flashing red warning lamps at the rear of the vehicle and two at the front of the vehicle. The alternately flashing red warning lamps shall be visible at five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight.
(o) Four alternately flashing amber warning lamps shall be installed so that one is located near each alternately flashing red warning lamp, at the same level, but closer to the vertical centerline of the bus. The alternately flashing amber warning lamps shall be visible at five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight.
(p) The background surrounding the alternately flashing warning lamps shall be black in color and extend outward approximately 3 inches.
(q) School buses shall not be equipped with hitch receivers or other equipment that enable towing.
(r) School buses shall not be equipped with flip seats.
(s) Dual rear tires shall be provided on all school buses.
(t) Sanders many not be installed on any school buses.
(u) Wheelhousing shall be equipped with molded fender extensions and rubber mud flaps.
(v) The driver's window, the first window on the left, the first window after the entrance door, and door windows shall be approved thermal-paned safety glass. The driver's window on Type A school buses may be the manufacturer's standard.
(w) Optional tinted and/or frost-free glazing may be installed in all doors or windows, consistent with federal and state regulations.
Section 5. Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles. The following shall apply to all multipurpose passenger vehicles:
(a) The body shall be a closed integral type.
(b) The wheelbase shall be one hundred (100) inches or more.
(c) The vehicle shall have the following equipment:
(i) At least one Underwriters' Laboratory (UL)-approved pressurized, dry chemical fire extinguisher.
(ii) A first aid kit meeting the same specifications as required for school buses.
(iii) A body fluid clean-up kit meeting the same specifications as required for school buses.
(d) The vehicle shall contain at least three (3) reflectorized triangle road-warning devices.
(e) The vehicle's color shall not be National School Bus Yellow.